Media Borough

Environmental Advisory Council (EAC)(members: 7 / term: 3 years)

The Environmental Advisory Council shall advise Media Borough Council, and the Borough of Media's Committees, and to educate the citizens of the Borough of Media on matters that afect the quality of the environment in the borough, including those relating to the protection, conservation, management, promotion, and use of natural resources, including air, land and water resources located within the Borough.

Walt Cressler, Chairperson
Jim McGonigle
Brian Taussig-Lux
Vivian Williams
Brett Lester
Marcia Tate
Ronald Clark
Brian C. Hall - Council Liaison

Media Named Tree City USA
Media has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to its community forest. It is the 27th year Media has received this national recognition. A tree planting event took place on Friday, April 25, 2008 at Media Elementary School.

Media Cigarette Butts Cleanup
Approximately 5,144 cigarette butts were cleaned up in one half hour by 22 Penncrest High School students!

Philadelphia Sustainability Awards

Noise Monitoring
In 1996, the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) established a new Noise Management Program within the airport's Noise Office. The program included the hiring of a full-time Noise Officer and the procurement of a Noise Monitoring/Flight Tracking System. The Noise Office was created to help address the concerns of the general public on aircraft operations over the communities located around the airport. The key objective of the Noise Office is to provide information and education to the airport's neighbors so they have a better understanding of how and why the airport and aircraft operate the way they do. To accomplish this objective, a 24-hour Noise Hotline was created to allow the public to communicate with the airport in order to voice their concern. A citizen can call the hotline and leave a message for the Noise Officer who will document, investigate and respond to their concern.

Call the 24-hour Noise Hotline at 215-937-6750

Date: April 26, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: Pete Alyanakian 610.909.9004

Media Powers Up With Sunshine
Click here for the news article from NBC10

Media Borough to receive the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence
Media Borough Council has been awarded the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence for the year 2006. A ceremony recognizing this achievement will be held May 3, 2007 from 3pm to 4pm at the Media Theatre at Monroe and State Streets. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty will be on hand to present the award.

The Borough of Media is being honored for their Solar Energy for Media Initiative that has installed 5 kilowatts on each of four buildings in the borough: Media Elementary School, Media Upper Providence Library, Media Theatre and the Media Fire House. The initiative was conceived by Councilman Pete Alyanakian who has lead Media's Environmental Advisory Committee since its inception in 2004. This is the fourth award the initiative has won including two Penn Future Awards as Cleanest Borough in PA, and the Southeastern PA Associations of Environmental Advisory Committees Environmental Recognition Award. These installations will bring the total amount of kilowatts produced in the borough to 25kW. The project is the beginning of a clean energy micro grid in Media that will provide electricity for vital civic function during a state of emergency. There is a 5kW system on the Media Armory that was the first building in Media to receive solar panels as well as the first Energy Harvest Grant for solar panel installation.

The five solar PV systems will produce approximately 25,000 kilowatt-hours each year. Solar generated energy is one of the cleanest energies. It uses the light of the sun to make electricity. The advantages are a reduction in green house gases that will reduce global warming. The next advantage to solar power is a reduction in the importation of foreign oil. This project has a strong educational component, as there will be educational displays at each site. This installation added to the Borough's inventory of PV making the Borough of Media the leading municipality in producing clean energy in Pennsylvania.

Media will develop solar RECs (renewable electricity credits) that will add to the portfolio of renewable energy produced in Pennsylvania. While the total amount of solar is small compared to use, the small amounts of solar electricity will offset demands on the grid. This process will gradually add up over time, and all utility ratepayers will benefit. This is because solar produces the most electricity on summer days, especially summer afternoons, when air conditioners are in full use and people arrive home, turning on TVs and computers. Solar energy creates load reduction for the major energy grid and reduces market price for the borough and other stakeholders. By taking the edge off demand from the grid, utilities will not need to fire up backup generation plants as often. The effect will be less costly summer electricity for all. By investing in small customer sited photovoltaic generation, the Commonwealth has helped reduce needed investment in new natural gas and nuclear power plants. The question is where do we want to be in the next 20 to 30 years, as oil production declines? Media Borough is showcasing solar energy and legitimize the use of this vital and proven technology. By reducing our peak energy demand, the Borough will lessen its energy bill throughout the year.

The Borough of Media is planning continued development of a new electric grid based on distributed solar generation, and through these projects, demonstrate the viability of solar power in urban settings.
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Information on Lawn Mowing
Tips for Mowing your Lawn

Information on Rain Barrels
How to Make a Rain Barrel

Media Borough Water Quality Hotlines
A list of contact numbers to help citizens report violations or problems. Click here for more information.

Water Quality Information Posters
PennState Car Washing Poster
PennState Pet Waste Poster

Clean Energy Community
Media Borough commits to becoming a Clean Energy Community by 2010. Click here for more information.
Sign Up Form
Declaration of Energy Independence

Stormwater Brochure
The Borough of Media is proud to present a new brochure regarding the importance of trees in preventing stormwater runoff, improving the quality of our drinking water and preserving the environment. Click here to view.

League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund - Water Resources Education Grant
The Borough of Media was awarded grant funding in the amount of $4,000 to conduct educational activites to improve the quality of Media's water resources. For additional information about this grant, please read the linked press release.

Energy Harvest Grant Awarded
The Borough of Media has been selected by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to receive an Energy Harvest Grant in the amount of $94,245.00. This funding will be used to install additional solar panels throughout Media making the Borough the "Solar Capitol of Pennsylvania". See press release for more information.

Solar Panels at the Armory
The Borough of Media was awarded grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to install solar panels at the Armory as an alternative energy source. The Borough is proud to do our part by taking steps toward energy conservation. The solar panels signify the First Energy Harvest Project in Southeastern Pennsylvania. For additional information on the solar panels and coverage of the September 16, 2004 press release click here.

Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)
Media Borough Council approved the creation of an Environmental Advisory Committee to work on public education and outreach to residents and business. Some areas the EAC will get involved in are: stormwater education; promotion of practices which reduce generation of air pollution and solid waste, including promoting and recognizing a higher level of recycling; promotion of property maintenance practices by interfacing with the Shade Tree Commission; wind energy and anything related to the environment.

DEP Grant Program To Help Small Businesses WIth Pollution Prevention, Energy Efficiency

The Media Armory is the Featured Buyer of Clean Electricity
Approximately 100,000 consumers in the Mid-Atlantic region are buying clean electricity, helping to protect their families and communities. For more information on the Borough of Media's role as a featured buyer of clean electricity go to http://cleanyourair.org and select clean buyers.

NPDES Phase II
NPDES Phase II is a storm water management program focused on preventing storm water pollution. The Borough of Media, as an operator of a storm sewer system, holds a MS4 permit that requires participation in the NPDES program. The program addresses storm water pollution from construction, new development, illegal dumping to the storm sewer system, and pollution prevention and good housekeeping practices in municipal operations. It also continues to educate the community and get everyone involved in making sure the only thing that storm water contributes to our water is... uncontaminated water! The Borough of Media distributed an informational brochure entitled "When it Rains, it Drains" with the spring 2004 newsletter. See below for other stormwater outreach information.

One of the most important ways you can get involved in protecting our water supply is by reporting activities you observe that you think will harm the storm sewer system. In case of a storm water emergency, please contact Media Borough at (610) 566-5210 or the Southeast Pennsylvania Regional Office of the Department of Environmental Protection at (484) 250-5900.

More information regarding the protection of our storm water system can be obtained by contacting the U.S. EPA Office of Wastewater Management at www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater or (202) 564-9545.

Wind Energy
Additionally, as part of a continued effort in energy conservation, the Borough of Media is proud to announce the purchase of wind energy from Energy Cooperative Proposal for 2004.